“I’ll walk with you,” Bennett said, nodding his appreciation to Ophelia.
“I thought you’d be running in the lead,” Ivy said.
Bennett rubbed his thigh. “Not this time. I’ve got an issue with my quad muscle right now. Don’t want to push it.” He could, of course, but he’d won the Santa Sprint before, and he wanted to see others have a shot. Guessing who would win was half the fun.
When Ivy shivered again, Bennett picked up a red sweatshirt from a box and handed a few bills to Ophelia for the purchase. “You look like you need this,” he said to Ivy.
“We’ll match now,” she said, laughing. She shrugged into the roomy sweatshirt, zipped it up to her chin, and pulled up the hoodie over her hair. “Much better, thank you.”
“Woo-hoo, let’s get the party started,” Shelly yelled, jogging in place. Her hair was brushed into a high ponytail, and she wore bright red earmuffs. She and Mitch lined up next to each other.
“Ladies first,” Mitch said, taking a step back.
Shelly tugged the sleeve of his old sweatshirt. “You get back here. If I’m going to beat you, I don’t want you to say you gave me any kind of advantage. Fair and square, got it?”
“You think you’ll beat me?” Mitch bounced in place like a prizefighter. “You asked for it. Guess I should apologize in advance for kicking sand in your face.”
“I don’t think so,” Shelly shot back. “You’re the one who’ll be eating my sand.” She sank into a deep runner’s stretch as if to taunt him with her limberness.
Mitch did a couple of air punches. “Okay, New York. I’ll show you how it’s done on this coast.”
Wearing his university fleece jacket, Jamir lined up on the front line next to Jen and George, who were wearing matching Got Nails? sweatshirts and Santa hats. Contractor Axe Woodson was there with a Montana sweatshirt, looking amused at the costumes other runners wore. This year, they had plenty of Santas, a couple of elves, and a reindeer.
Inn guests Molly Ann, Kristy, and Rosamie, among others, were chatting in the middle of the group, while Arthur, Ginger, and Darla gathered with others who were walking in the rear.
Nan was passing out jingle bell necklaces to everyone. “Who needs a jingle necklace?” She shook the bells vigorously.
“Up here, Nan,” Shelly said. “So I can make a lot of noise as I’m passing Mitch.”
“Then I’d better take a couple, too,” Mitch said.
“We’re gladly accepting donations for these,” Nan said as she looped strands over their heads.
“Winner pays,” Mitch said, reaching into his pocket.
Shelly whipped out a bill and beat him to it. “Agreed.”
Bennett stood before them, hands on his hips. “As many of you know, George is the one to beat this year. But I haven’t seen him running on the beach as much these last few weeks. Just saying some of you might have a shot.”
“Hey, don’t jinx me,” George said. “I’ve been running on my treadmill. Didn’t want to scare anyone from coming out.”
Good-natured jeers erupted from the crowd, and Bennett laughed. Regardless of who won or came in last, they’d all celebrate at Java Beach afterward.
Bennett blew the whistle around his neck and raised his hand in the air. “On your mark, get set, go!”
The crowd surged forward with Jamir, George, Mitch, and Axe in the lead. Shelly kept pace just behind Mitch. As they raced across the sand, the distance between the runners and walkers lengthened.
Bennett matched Ivy’s long stride. “What do you think about our Santa Sprint?”
Ivy’s laughter floated on the breeze, shimmering with lightness. “I think you’re all a bit nutty, but I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun.”
Bennett nodded ahead. “I didn’t know Shelly would be so competitive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her running on the beach. I thought she was only interested in yoga.”
“Shelly was on the track team in high school. With her long legs, she can cover some ground. And she’s been running after yoga class—after you’ve left for the office.”
“That makes sense,” he said. “Maybe she’s holding back.”
“Shelly isn’t known to hold back on much of anything.”
Breathing deeply, Ivy set a brisk pace. Bennett enjoyed walking with her. Sometimes they strolled along the beach in the evening after dinner, sharing the events of their day. Those were times he treasured. He’d help wash the dinner dishes so they could take half an hour or so by themselves.
After dinner, Shelly and Mitch often lounged outside by the fire pit with blankets and a pot of tea or an occasional glass of wine. Sometimes Bennett and Ivy would return and join them, or Ivy might have guests or other business to handle.
Since the busy, crazy days of the summer, they had all fallen into a different rhythm. Summer Beach was like that. Autumn and winter were the quietest seasons with few tourists, but Bennett enjoyed the tranquility.
As the leading edge of the runners reached the turnaround point at the lighthouse, Bennett checked his watch. “They’re making good time. But now the fun begins. There’s a lot of strategy going on now. Watch what happens when they merge through the other group.”
As the runners neared the walkers, cheers and jingles rose in the air. Mitch and Shelly went wider into the soft, slower sand, while Axe and Jamir stayed on the harder sand, but they had to run back through the crowd, slowing and dodging them as they did.
Axe lost momentum while Jamir surged ahead, but when Mitch and Shelly pounded back onto the damp, hard-packed sand, Mitch took the lead, with Shelly in fourth place.
“Looks like Jamir might have the win this year,” Bennett said. “Young legs have an advantage.”
“We’ll see how their strategies play out,” Ivy said.
“A good plan is important, and that can change during a long race.”
“I’ll say,” Ivy said.
“I take it you’re not talking about the race.”
“We had to pivot fast to fill rooms. And now look at our guests. They’re all having a grand time.” She glanced around. “Can we turn back? I don’t care if I finish, but I want to watch Shelly.”
“Sure, let’s go.”
Ivy turned and broke into a jog. Ahead they could see the top four runners, closing in on the finish line. Ophelia was filming, and a larger crowd of onlookers had gathered.
“Go, Shelly!” Ivy cried, picking up speed.
Suddenly, Shelly pulled around the men, her long legs pumping.
“Well, I’ll be,” Bennett said. “Look at her go.”
“That’s strategy,” Ivy said. “I know my sister.”
Shelly passed Axe, who seemed to be tiring and lagged in the crowd. Just before the finish line, she sailed past Mitch, and from where they were, it looked like she might have tied with Jamir.
Whoops of surprise burst from the crowd.
“Wow,” Bennett cried. “Pretty impressive.”
When they arrived at the finish line, both Shelly and Jamir were celebrating.
Ophelia was replaying her film. “Right there,” she said, pointing to a slow-motion frame. “That’s a tie.”